I have not been fishing lately, it has been a rough 3 weeks or so with some difficult challenges for my family an I. On Saturday I went out with my friend Martin to a spot he found. I really needed a chance to decompress a little. The tide was marginal, at only a 7.3, but I ended up seeing two fish working in about 4 inches of water right along the river....made a few casts, and spooked one that swam right up to me before I could get out of the way.

I ended up casting to the other fish, and got him on a crab pattern. Nice 27.5 inch fish and a fun fight starting in about 4 inches of water....lots of splashing.

I ended up hooking one other fish that came off, and seeing and having shots at several others. I think I spooked 3 fish trying to get the fly down into the grass that was a little taller.....up over the leaf and drop right on the fishes head after casting to it a half dozen times. Still a great day, and thanks to my friend Martin for taking me out. I needed it.

John, great fish. I just got back from Savannah. Never caught a fish only had one bump that may or may not been a fish. The fort has alot of potential by the time I went didnt have the time to fish. When I went by the Beaufort, I thought of you catching all those reds.
Lynn

bigpopper

09-23-2010, 10:08 PM

Nice fish John!

JohnH0802

09-24-2010, 04:16 PM

John, great fish. I just got back from Savannah. Never caught a fish only had one bump that may or may not been a fish. The fort has alot of potential by the time I went didnt have the time to fish. When I went by the Beaufort, I thought of you catching all those reds.
Lynn

Lynn,
I am sorry to hear that you had no luck, but maybe next time you will. If it works out maybe next time we can get together.

John

MadisonBoats

09-24-2010, 07:29 PM

I have not been fishing lately, it has been a rough 3 weeks or so with some difficult challenges for my family an I. On Saturday I went out with my friend Martin to a spot he found. I really needed a chance to decompress a little. The tide was marginal, at only a 7.3, but I ended up seeing two fish working in about 4 inches of water right along the river....made a few casts, and spooked one that swam right up to me before I could get out of the way.

I ended up casting to the other fish, and got him on a crab pattern. Nice 27.5 inch fish and a fun fight starting in about 4 inches of water....lots of splashing.

I have never been fishing in this setting; but, I enjoy reading your posts so that I can plan a trip one day. I came close a few times; but divine intervention stepped in and I stepped out.:eek:

No Hackle

09-25-2010, 11:46 AM

John, my wife and I are for sure going back to Savannah. We had agreat time and really like the area. I think we should hook- up for sure. As far as the luck went thats part of it. About the time I figured it out it was time to go. I want to thank you again for the info. When we decide to go back I be in touch. Maybe some help with the tides or best time of year. I really found out what little I know about tides and they seem so drastic in that area.
Thanks again, Lynn

speed43

09-26-2010, 11:00 PM

John, I've been trying to find areas along the coast to wade grass flats for reds. I have just enough knowledge to be dangerous, but have fished grass flats one time in Georgetown and absolutely loved it. I live in East Tennessee and have been hankering to make a trip to the coast. Any help or advise would be much appreciated.

JohnH0802

09-27-2010, 08:11 AM

Shawn,
Let me know if you get a chance to plan a trip and I will try and help you out. It is a great experience.

Speed,
The best advice is to look at the tides, and plan a trip when the tides are good. Normally the tides are pretty good towards the end of summer/fall. Earlier in the summer the tides can be less predictable, i.e. the prevailing winds can keep the water out, while in the late summer/fall the prevailing winds often bring extra water in. I use a tide log, and the best bet would be to check the tides ahead and plan a trip when you have tides that are going to be from 7.7 to 8.3 for the majority of your visit. Now these tides are for the Beaufort/HHI area and are uncorrected at the Savannah River Mouth. Tides for other parts of the coast would be different, and I do not know what constitutes a good tide in the Charleston area (the tides there are lower than they are in my area). Hope this helps.

John

JohnH0802

09-27-2010, 08:29 AM

On another note, I did manage to catch one fish this weekend, and break another off. The one I landed was a decent 22" fish, but he had 10 spots on him.

Shawn,
Let me know if you get a chance to plan a trip and I will try and help you out. It is a great experience.

John

I am sure you would; I can see from your posts that you are a great ambassador for our sport and you provide us landlocked guys with the Redfish information. Made it to Tybee Island once with my rod and all the right flies; met a wonderful young lady that rented kayaks for fishing in the backwaters. She was so young and was just finishing a bout with cancer. I enjoyed chatting with her and she offered to let me piggyback a trip. However; my in-laws stepped in and said I could not go fishing. It was not on their agenda for our trip...That was one of the instances that helped me wake up to the situation I had put myself in...Cannot wait to visit that area again...

JohnH0802

09-28-2010, 12:08 PM

Shawn,
I know how much I enjoy reading about the trout fishing and the area on this board....wish I could contribute more on that side (i.e. wish I had been able to get up to the mountains much more). Since I cannot I try and share what I can for those that can't get this way much.

John

ronhenry123

09-29-2010, 02:41 PM

JohnH, I'm headed to Fripp for the week next week. Bringing my boat to fish the marshes and creeks. Am a fly fisherman. I have spoons and Clousers. Any advice?

JohnH0802

09-30-2010, 08:35 AM

It is the time of year when the bite should really start to be good on the low tide flats. Spoons and clousers are good choices as well as shrimp patterns and crab patterns. The fish are starting to get agressive with the falling water temps. Is it a flats boat? You can also find some wading flats and fish some of the high tides in the wading areas.

John

ronhenry123

09-30-2010, 08:50 AM

John, it's a G3 center console jonboat. Might as well be a flats boat, although I don't have a pole. How do you know where it's safe to wade vs. just a mud hole?

MadisonBoats

09-30-2010, 08:51 AM

Shawn,
I know how much I enjoy reading about the trout fishing and the area on this board....wish I could contribute more on that side (i.e. wish I had been able to get up to the mountains much more). Since I cannot I try and share what I can for those that can't get this way much.

John

John,
You do very well at contributing and I consider you my Redfish Advisor:smile:. I appreciate your willingness to help and share information with others...Keep up the kindness and I guarantee it will come back to you twice-fold! Have a good one bro!
SM

kentuckytroutbum

09-30-2010, 11:30 AM

ronhenry-

A poling rod allows you to "test" the flats bottom before you jump into mud or over you head. Also, the pole allows to push your way onto the flats and not spook any fish that might be lurking. Water will transmit sound a lot further than air, and the sound of an engine will definitely spook 'em. A longer pole is more useful than a short one.

Bill

JohnH0802

09-30-2010, 02:59 PM

John, it's a G3 center console jonboat. Might as well be a flats boat, although I don't have a pole. How do you know where it's safe to wade vs. just a mud hole?

It is always smart to test it first, but the rule of thumb is that the short grass will have a hard bottom. Now I am not to experienced in fishing wadable flats accessible by boat, but the ones I have gone to hole the same. The grass is shorter because the bottom is hard and has less nutrients. Be careful of bare spots that might be puff mud.

I recommend finding a wadable flat prior to the water coming in, so you can see where all of the small channels are that will be underwater when the tide is in. On some flats I have used tape flags to mark some of these small creeks so that when the water is in I can still know where the creek is.

Once you find a short grass flat and see how the bottom is, it becomes alot easier for you to tell the difference by the grass. You will see the grass change at the margins that indicate where it starts getting soft.

Hope this helps. When are you going to be this way?

speed43

10-09-2010, 09:26 PM

Shawn,
Let me know if you get a chance to plan a trip and I will try and help you out. It is a great experience.

Speed,
The best advice is to look at the tides, and plan a trip when the tides are good. Normally the tides are pretty good towards the end of summer/fall. Earlier in the summer the tides can be less predictable, i.e. the prevailing winds can keep the water out, while in the late summer/fall the prevailing winds often bring extra water in. I use a tide log, and the best bet would be to check the tides ahead and plan a trip when you have tides that are going to be from 7.7 to 8.3 for the majority of your visit. Now these tides are for the Beaufort/HHI area and are uncorrected at the Savannah River Mouth. Tides for other parts of the coast would be different, and I do not know what constitutes a good tide in the Charleston area (the tides there are lower than they are in my area). Hope this helps.

John

Thanks John, it helps allot. If you could head to the coast in October/November for the weekend and wanted to wade for redfish what are would you head to?

speed43

05-27-2011, 10:12 PM

Shawn,
Let me know if you get a chance to plan a trip and I will try and help you out. It is a great experience.

Speed,
The best advice is to look at the tides, and plan a trip when the tides are good. Normally the tides are pretty good towards the end of summer/fall. Earlier in the summer the tides can be less predictable, i.e. the prevailing winds can keep the water out, while in the late summer/fall the prevailing winds often bring extra water in. I use a tide log, and the best bet would be to check the tides ahead and plan a trip when you have tides that are going to be from 7.7 to 8.3 for the majority of your visit. Now these tides are for the Beaufort/HHI area and are uncorrected at the Savannah River Mouth. Tides for other parts of the coast would be different, and I do not know what constitutes a good tide in the Charleston area (the tides there are lower than they are in my area). Hope this helps.

John

John,
I will be in Edisto Island on June 10 and a local guide her in East Tennessee suggested I contact you and you may offer me some advise. I will be with the family but would like to fish as much as I can. I'm wanting to either Kayak or wade any of the tidal creeks or marsh areas around Edisto. My guide friend says that Beaufort would be better than Edisto. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Speed

JohnH0802

05-29-2011, 09:22 PM

Speed,
The most important thing is that there is good tides, and you definately picked a good time to come. Starting on Friday, the tides are good till at least Teusday the 14th, and if you have a flat that floods early you may even be able to fish Wed the 15th (tide will be just a little late, i.e. dark).

I know that there are plenty of good wading spots in the Charleston area....I just don't know any of them. I have not had a chance to fish up there at all. I fish around Beaufort, and a little aroun Hilton Head. You may want to check on this board for some Charleston Information:

http://www.charlestonfishing.com/forum/default.asp

Click on the tab for fly fishing. You may have to join to get participate and ask questions, and I highly recommend you do.

Mad Mike and Nikonjedi would where I would start to get some information...people can be a little touchy about sharing info. I would introduce yourself, let them know that you are coming, and then go see them (I think that they both work at fly shops in Charleston). They would be more likely to help you with some information in person.

If you are coming to the Beaufort area I will give you some places to try out. Let me know your e-mail address and who referred you to me if you do not mind.

John

speed43

05-30-2011, 05:36 PM

Speed,
The most important thing is that there is good tides, and you definately picked a good time to come. Starting on Friday, the tides are good till at least Teusday the 14th, and if you have a flat that floods early you may even be able to fish Wed the 15th (tide will be just a little late, i.e. dark).

I know that there are plenty of good wading spots in the Charleston area....I just don't know any of them. I have not had a chance to fish up there at all. I fish around Beaufort, and a little aroun Hilton Head. You may want to check on this board for some Charleston Information:

http://www.charlestonfishing.com/forum/default.asp

Click on the tab for fly fishing. You may have to join to get participate and ask questions, and I highly recommend you do.

Mad Mike and Nikonjedi would where I would start to get some information...people can be a little touchy about sharing info. I would introduce yourself, let them know that you are coming, and then go see them (I think that they both work at fly shops in Charleston). They would be more likely to help you with some information in person.

If you are coming to the Beaufort area I will give you some places to try out. Let me know your e-mail address and who referred you to me if you do not mind.

John

John, I can't figure out how to PM on this board, so I will post the info here. My email is rdalew@yahoo.com and Randy Ratliff referred me to you. He is a local guide here and has help me tremendously in learning to row my drift boat on the South Holston & Watauga Rivers here in East Tennessee. He's also a member on this board.

JohnH0802

05-31-2011, 02:02 PM

Tell Randy that I said hello. I sent you an e-mail.

John

speed43

06-01-2011, 10:50 PM

Tell Randy that I said hello. I sent you an e-mail.

John

Will do, thanks for the advise.
Dale

JohnH0802

06-07-2011, 01:55 PM

Dale,
Did you get the google earth picture I sent you with the area to park and the area to walk in to the flat?

speed43

06-07-2011, 02:28 PM

Dale,
Did you get the google earth picture I sent you with the area to park and the area to walk in to the flat?

John, I did, but I've been in Bible School this week and trying to get ready to leave, so I haven't had a chance to thank you or look into the location in depth. I plan to try tonight. I appreciate the help and I've talked to the guys at the Charlesto Angler and I'm going to stop and see them. I promise to keep the locatin to myself and I always practice catch and release, so I plan to leave the area better than I found it. I don't know if I will have internet access while I'm there, but if I do I may send you a message or two. Thanks again...

yonder

06-09-2011, 07:45 PM

John, First of all, thanks for all the info........this is a great thread. I fish the Morehead City area of N.C. at least three times a year. There are alot of grass flats to fish for reds, along with inlets for blues, spanish, etc. What kind of footwear do you recommend for wading? There are alot of rays, oyster beds, etc. in the water. Is it ok to just shuffle my feet along? I would hate to ruin a vacation with a trip to the hospital. thanks......

JohnH0802

06-11-2011, 08:21 AM

I use bass pro flats booties. They protect the feet from oyster shells and such, and are inexpensive. You can also use your regular wading shoes, but the salt water is rough on them. Make sure you are familiar with what constitutes a hard bottom and whan doesn't.....nothing link sinking up to your crotch in puff mudd with the tide coming in to get your heartrate up.